Speaking of this as he does in all of his letters. There are some things in those [epistles of Paul] that are difficult to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist and misconstrue to their own utter destruction, just as [they distort and misinterpret] the rest of the Scriptures. – 2 Peter 3:16, Amplified Bible

In the King James Version of the Bible, the word “unstable” appears in only four verses: Genesis 49:4, James 1:8, 2 Peter 2:14, and 2 Peter 3:16. In Genesis 49:4, we learn that “unstable” means being reckless (not showing proper concern about the possible bad results of your actions), wanton (not limited or controlled), and unbridled (not controlled or limited : done, felt, or expressed in a free and uncontrolled way), which leads to a superficial existence without substance or impact.

In James 1:8, we learn that the word “unstable” can also apply to a person who is consistently plagued with doubt and uncertainty, making him or her unable to accomplish anything of value due to being frozen with fright. In both 2 Peter 2:14 and 2 Peter 3:16, we learn that something else can make a person unstable, and that something else is disloyalty.

In both 2 Peter 2:14 and 2 Peter 3:16, the word “unstable” is the Greek word “asteriktos” (pronounced as-tay’-rik-tos), which means “unsteadfast.” According to Merriam Webster, “steadfast” means “very devoted or loyal to a person, belief, or cause : not changing.” So, an unsteadfast person is one who is disloyal, rather than loyal, to a person, belief, or cause. Such people constantly change their points of view when it suits their best interests, and in 2 Peter 2:14 and 3:16, such people are ever changing in their attitudes towards God and man due to the disloyalty that permeates their character.

At the root of all three types of instability – being ruled by our passions, suffering doubt, and being disloyal – is this: lack of faith in and trust in God. With each important decision we make we are essentially choosing whether to trust in and rely on God’s way or to trust in and rely on our way.  We Christians often acknowledge with our minds and with our mouths that God’s way is best, but when it is time to act we all too often trust in our own passions, wisdom and strengths.

Do we find more value in the pleasures of sin for a season or the promise of treasures in Heaven? Do we put our trust in God’s promises or in the things the world tells us will solve our problems? Are we loyal to our self interests first, or do we glorify God in everything we do by putting His interests first in our lives? Genesis 49:4, James 1:8, 2 Peter 2:14, and 2 Peter 3:16 teach us that until we are willing to place our faith 100% in Christ and 0% in ourselves, we will be unstable, inconstant, and untrustworthy in the things of God.

If you were to look at yourself through God’s eyes, how do you think He would rate you? Stable? Or, unstable?